Most of the shingles anecdotes I know were milder cases – but some of them were misdiagnosed and resulted in useless medical treatment (for the misdiagnosis) or disrupted travel plans (during the trip).
Got the shot Friday afternoon. I looked carefully at my sore arm today and there is a little hardness right where the shot went. Then about 2 inches away is a bruise - a bigger sore red spot. Anybody else have this?
^^yeah, wife had a bruise.
I think I’ve posted this before, but my rec is to get vaccines into your dominant arm. The constant motion (moving your mouse, eating) of that hand/arm helps dissipate the vaccine from the muscle faster.
^^^ Agree with this. I did not do it for my first Shingles shot, but I always do it with flu shots etc. I also take Advil right before I get the shot.
I just got the second dose last Friday. It was nine months after the first due to shortages and then I kind of forgot about it with a lot of work drama going on. My doctor said it was fine to wait that long between shots.
I had about the same reaction as the first one, fine the first day, super tired and achy the second. My arm hurt for about four days.
So glad I did it, though, since I had shingles that went into my optic nerve about nine years ago and has caused vision/eye issues ever since. I got the Zostavax vaccine when it first came out, but I know Shingrex is supposed to be much more effective.
Second shot tomorrow…not looking forward to it but will be happy in a few days when it’s behind me and any side effects are gone.
First shot tomorrow. My primary care didn’t have the shot in stock last year and I procrastinated long enough so they have it now. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I had shingles last year on my face and scalp. It was terrible. I have now received both Shingrex shots. Both made me feel quite sick for about 3 days each time. Happy that is behind me. Would not want Shingles again.
@arisamp, I would start taking something like advil today ahead of the shot. It could lessen the discomfort to get a head start. I had a terrible time with my first one and my doctor said I should plan to pre-medicate before my second.
@GRITS80 - too late 
. I got the shot this morning. So far so good. We’ll see how I feel as the day goes on. H got his second shot a month ago and both times, did feel a little achy/sore that day and the next day. But overall, not too bad.
I finally got my 2nd shot yesterday. 24 hours later and I’m exhausted and my arm is sore And feel like I have a fever. Last time I had a similar reaction so I’m expecting flu like symptoms tomorrow. I purposely did it this week as I have no weekend plans.
@mom60, you’re describing the way I felt yesterday (day 2 after my shot). Today was significantly better; just a mildly sore arm. Hopefully you’ll feel better tomorrow too. And the prize: protection against shingles.
How many people had different reactions between shot one and two? Other than a bit of a sore arm and a slight headache, which may not have been due to the injection, I felt fine. I am trying to figure out if I should again schedule my second shot on a Friday of a weekend without commitments, just in case I have a rougher time the second go round!
For those who are going to have your first or second shot, I totally agree with @bluebayou’s recommendation about having it on your dorminant arm.
I had my first on my non-dorminant arm. The arm was sore for over two weeks. No fever or other reaction. The second shot was on a dorminant arm. It sore for only about a week. Much better.
@snowball , I did not feel any different between the two shots (a bit over two months apart).
My friend had a headache and did not feel well after the first shot. She said the reaction after the second shot was worse. She had a severe headche, could not function and had to leave work by mid day.
Everyone reacts differently. I had sore arm, elevated temp (~99), and felt lousy for ~24 hours are the first shot. The second was much easier - just slight elevated temp for 12 hours. Had the 2nd vaccine at ~7:00 pm and felt fine in the next morning.
The wife had just the opposite rxn: her first wasn’t bad, but she felt worse after her second shot.
I got sick in the same way with both doses. Got both on a Friday afternoon. Sick all day Saturday in bed with flu like symptoms. Got better as the day went on Sunday. Monday back to normal and work.
I’m 53, I think I read the younger you are you usually get the post sickness. No one lists their ages in these posts but I wonder the ages of those of us who get sick?
@SeeksKnowledge I am 59 and had similar reactions both times. My sister is 67 with a host of auto immune diseases and Parkinson’s and she had no side effects at all.
Shot was Friday late afternoon, slept poorly last night, alternating chills and being too hot. Also arm hurt to lay on it and I’m a side sleeper. Woke up this morning and felt flu like. It’s now mid day and I’m tired but feeling better. New this time is arm red but not circular.
My H had the previous shingles vaccine and he isn’t in a rush to get this one.
I’m 67 and had about 24 hours of feeling crummy which started about 7 hours after the shot. My husband was 74 when he got the shot and felt bad for a little longer than that- both shots. We still could do our running/cycling, but didn’t have any energy.
I am 59 and my friend is 60.
She got bad reaction. I only had a sore arm that lasted much longe than any other shots and vaccinaton I have ever had.
Hopefully I didn’t post this already…first shot I had a very sore arm for 3 days. If I rolled onto it in the night, it would wake me up. No other side effects. This time, I had/have a sore arm but much less sore than last time (I’m on day 4 and it’s pretty mild now) but day 2 I had flu-like symptoms and felt lousy. Woke up day 3 and felt fine.
I would suggest having a clear calendar for two days if you can. Maybe you won’t need it but it’s nice to have. I missed a retirement party on Friday (had the shot on Thursday).
Very happy to have this behind me because these side effects are nothing to what I hear shingles is like.